I have been thinking for a day or so how to review this book, or more accurately, how I felt about it. Because it's not very straightforward.
I loved the writing, the language, the sentence construction. The beginning was incredible and I felt like I'd never want to put it down. I read it in a day.
However, I didnt enjoy reading it. Its obviously accomplished and written by a bestselling writer. I feel sure this will be another bestseller for Taddeo and probably receive prizes. But I didn't like any of the characters (this is deliberate I'm sure, the protagonist introduces herself as depraved), I didnt understand anyone's motivation and everyone just spoke so terribly to everyone else. I kept reading so I could find out the big secret about her parents death. Then towards the end of the novel is a horrifying scene....no spoilers but it involves coyotes attacking a dog....that genuinely made me feel sick and it felt so out of place. Like the whole book took a turn there, then there is a (super gross) murder. My reaction to the coyote scene is probably coloured by personal experience but I am interested to find out other readers reaction because honestly I hated it.
So I definitely have mixed feelings about this one. Lisa Taddeo is obviously a brilliant writer. I read the books quickly and there were parts I found moving and memorable. But overall I also did not enjoy reading it and wouldn't enthusiastically recommend it to every reader.